AN: Sorry for the late update my computer has been going a little haywire the last week or so and I've had trouble getting to write and what-not. But now I'm getting back on track! I should have the update for RC – Razorblade Connection in a few days for those who are interested, a week at the most. I'm really sorry guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Harry Potter that will be used, unfortunately.

Summary: Harry was captured by Death Eaters and taken to Voldemort. Can he defeat him and come out alive?

Title: The end…or the Beginning?


Draco sat staring at the door after everyone had left his room. He was confused and thoughts were swirling in his head like a twister. All that had been said to him was colliding together for the chance to be the first thought in line. Settling back against his pillows he tried to organize his thoughts into some sensible kind of order. Sighing Draco decided to think about what Dumbledore said first.

If he gave testimony under veritaserum of his hidden role in the war, his role as the mysterious Maverick than he wouldn't have to go to Azkaban, but he was hesitant to accept this. Before, whether he meant the war or his eye-opening experiences that led to his change he didn't know but before he would have jumped on the chance to get out of trouble easily. But now he was hesitant to accept because the truth would lead to media frenzy he wasn't sure he could handle. He had lost a lot of his confidence in those three months of hell and had been sure he wouldn't survive, that he'd be dead. But he wasn't dead, no, he was alive and now awake after being unconscious for little more than a week.

There would be an uproar from his revelation if he went through with it and at this moment thinking about it unsettled him greatly. He would give what Dumbledore brought up more consideration but for now he was undecided.

Sighing heavily he turned his mind onto his other visitors. Severus he could have almost completely understood the man coming to see him. When he was a student he had been the potion masters star pupil and an almost friendship type of relationship had been between them. His third year DADA professor, Lupin, and Harry Potter weren't anywhere near as expected on his list of people who would have been there. Potter's kindness to him had thrown him a bit; the easy way the other had talked to him was confusing. Even Lupin had certain friendliness towards him that he didn't understand.

When Potter had offered to put his memories of the defeat of Voldemort in a pensieve for him he had even surprised himself with his acceptance of the gesture. He wanted to see how the bastards last moment were badly but it had still surprised him that he accepted. The gesture and kindness led to one thing in his mind – pity. That had to be what it all was. Then Potter had snapped back at him and it was almost like old times, back in the corridors of Hogwarts. When Potter stormed out he was sure that that had been what it was all about, pity or guilt but then Severus had given him a talking to that had set his mind ablaze and his thoughts had turned uncertain.

Potter had ignored his best friends and told them nothing of his activities, strove to make sure he was comfortable in his own private room and had held the staff under oaths to protect him from public scrutiny and tabloid gossip. Draco had to grudgingly admit that, no, these actions were far too extreme even for a Gryffindor to do out of pity or guilt, especially for someone you were supposed to hate. And Severus' words kept coming back to him: He is much different from what you've perceived him as; I should know having gotten to know him. Severus Snape didn't accept or get along with anyone easily that was fact.

But for him to speak of Harry Potter the boy he'd showed nothing but contempt for since day one in such a way set the mind to wonder. If Severus's words were true than he knew the black haired young man better than he had in the past and obviously there was something about Potter that Severus knew that would have the potions master state quite firmly that Potter wasn't there out of pity. But what could it be? He wondered as his tongue swept through dry, parted lips to moisten them.

Why would Potter be here if he knew nothing of Maverick and only of my Death Eater status? Draco pondered as he turned to look out the enchanted window again, wincing slightly in pain as muscles in his neck protested the movement. All this confusion was hurting his head, all these unanswered questions and thoughts rumbling through his mind. He sighed and pulled the white cotton sheet around him deciding all this could wait awhile to be more closely examined. For now he wanted to rest.


(AN: Going back a bit too where Harry had left the room)

He stalked out of the hospital room anger and hurt and sadness warring for dominance on his face and in his mind. Things had gone so well, awkward silences aside, up until the end. Draco accused him of being there out of pity or guilt which he wasn't. He was there because he cared for the blonde and his health and wanted to make sure the blonde was okay. Of course nothing could ever go well for me, he thought bitterly glaring harshly at the floor as he walked. But gods, he'd almost forgotten how much of a prick the other could be. It almost made him feel nostalgic. Almost.

"Harry wait," a voice he recognized as Remus called from behind him. He was tempted not to stop, to keep walking and ignore the man's call but he knew he couldn't do that. He would have to at least reassure him that he was somewhat okay. So gritting his teeth and sighing in slight annoyance he stopped and turned towards the werewolf. Remus walked up to him and Harry raised an eyebrow at the man.

"Don't let it get to you Harry; it's only natural that he would be suspicious of your motives. As far as he knows you still hate him and the idea of your concern and the visit to him isn't something he'd expect." Remus said gently, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezing lightly.

"I know Remus, I know. I'm upset by what he said but also angry with myself for not thinking of it before. If our positions had been reversed I think I would have been suspicious myself. Look, I'm going to head out and clear my head a bit from…just everything. Wait for Severus, I'll see you two at home later." Harry said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. He turned and made his way quickly before Remus could say anything else.

He couldn't see it but knew Remus would be sending him worried looks but he couldn't care at the moment. He needed to get out of there and think for a bit. He quickly made his way out of St. Mungo's and stopped looking around the streets a bit. After a moment of thought he decided to walk round London a bit. He set off in some direction and began walking aimlessly, mind and thoughts elsewhere.

He felt like kicking himself for not thinking Draco would find it suspicious he was there. He had thought of so many worse case scenarios but hadn't even given thought to the fact his presence might be a little suspicious. How could he not think of that?

Easy Harry, he thought to himself with a derisive snort. Your so fucking hung up about him that you're tripping over everything that's been ingrained into you since six year. "Always think ahead, always know every possible scenario. Never go into things without being prepared," Severus had always told me that and what did I do? He scowled at the sidewalk as if it was somehow part of his problems. I don't think about the fact that me being there would be suspicious, the most likely thing to think about first really.

He sighed out loud and frowned. Just walking wasn't helping his thoughts much really and with a quick look around he dodged into the nearest alley. With a quick thought he apparated out of the alley and appeared in the middle of a forest. The forest, he knew, was not far from Snape Manor. With a small smile he slowly began to change, body shifting and morphing. And where once stood a young man now was a sleek and dangerous looking panther. It was black as night with emerald green eyes that almost glowed from its face. In this form he was Nightshade, a sleek and beautiful panther that was also dangerous when need be and he could also have fun and forget about life for awhile before thinking through his thoughts.

With a growl he shot off, running and sprinting among the trees and bushes. The light night wind blew through his fur as his padded feet thumped against the ground. This was what he needed, the freedom to run wild and clear his mind. It always helped him to be able to place his thoughts in order and think things through more easily. Dashing through the forest in early evening felt exhilarating and freeing.

He knew Severus and Remus would probably know where he was or at least what he was doing. They knew that when stressed he tended to shift into his panther form and he was definitely stressed now. When they had gotten the owl stating that Draco was awake, he was glad to hear it. For some reason he felt there was more to the situation then Draco just being a Death Eater. He hadn't brought it up to anybody else but he felt that somehow there was more it. All the questions in his head he had had brought it to that conclusion. Draco was a Death Eater, he even had the Dark Mark but why was he found so beaten up after he killed Voldemort?

Harry knew the man had punished his followers for any reason he saw fit to punish them but the extent to which Draco was punished was beyond what Voldemort would do for even screwing up a simple raid. He would have thrown a bit of Crucio around but the torture that the blonde clearly went through was far beyond the norm for the deceased Dark Lord. Something wasn't right in all this and Harry was sure there was something he was missing to it. Oh, he had theories but nothing that truthfully seemed possible or at least not possible from what he would have thought before. Now he wondered if maybe Draco wasn't all he had thought him to be.

He, Severus and Remus had gone to the hospital to see Draco where they had found Dumbledore with the blonde. The sight of the old wizard raised more questions in his mind but also answered a few. After that he had been sure that Draco was somehow not all he seemed but he wanted to reserve opinion as not to get his hopes up if he was wrong. Though the visit hadn't ended on a good note Draco hadn't actually told him not to come back but Harry knew the blonde thought he was there out of pity or guilt. How was he to convince Draco that he was sincere in his reasons for visiting him without actually stating that he had a huge crush on him? He could continue to visit him as long as he's in the hospital and show that he was sincere. That was the best he could do for now.

Jumping over a fallen tree trunk he began to sprint through the forest. He felt a little more relaxed and at ease now. Licking his lips, white teeth momentarily flashing in the night, Nightshade began to transform back into the form of Harry Potter. Harry stretched his body languorously for a moment before apparating to the edge of the wards around Snape Manor. He smiled slightly and cocked his head to the side. Smirking, he once again became Nightshade and sprinted quickly up to the Manor. When he reached the door he pawed at it briefly before thumping his head against it. With a small huff of annoyance Harry stood in front of the door and then apparated into the entrance hall. He and Remus had been keyed into the wards awhile ago so they could apparate around the manor and also into it.

Thinking about where Severus and Remus could be he immediately headed for the sitting room the two lovers could usually be found in. Reaching the sitting room he walked through the open door and rolled his eyes at the sight in front of him. Remus was currently straddling Severus who lay sprawled on a couch and they were kissing rather passionately. Harry had walked in on them doing much more before and wasn't at all surprised. He cleared his throat rather pointedly when they continued to kiss each other.

Remus looked over his shoulder at Harry, face a bit flushed and lips kiss bruised. The pink flush of his face darkened a bit when he saw Harry and he stood up quickly sitting next to Severus on the couch. Severus had calmly sat up after Remus and now sat on the couch properly. Severus quirked a brow at Harry once Remus had settled himself down.

"Are you alright Harry?" Remus questioned as Harry came in and sat down in a chair adjacent to them.

"Better than before, after I left St. Mungo's I mean. I went for a run and cleared my head a bit," Harry said knowing they would know what he meant.

"That's good it always helps you think when you do that." Remus said with a small smile.

"What happened after I left the hospital room?" Harry asked looking at Severus pointedly.

"Nothing much," Severus said in a silky tone. "I just gave Draco a little…advice."

Harry looked at the other man, faint alarm in his green eyes. "Advice?" he asked in a slightly strained voice.

"I didn't tell him anything about your infatuation with him you annoying brat," Severus said exasperatedly with a hint of affection in his tone. "I just gave him some advice to let him think on."

Harry stared at the potions master for a long moment before nodding his head slowly. He trusted Severus not to betray his trust but had just wanted the reassurance that nothing about his attraction for the blonde was said. Shaking his head he looked up at other two men in the room. "I decided to go back," he said casually looking from amber eyes to coal colored eyes.

Severus just nodded his head having thought the younger man would. Remus nodded also though he looked slightly worried.

"Just remember were here for you Harry," the werewolf said simply. Harry nodded but said nothing for a moment.

"Why don't we have dinner?" Harry finally said after a long silence. The other two nodded and together the three left the sitting room and made their way to the smaller dining hall. "I got an invitation for lunch with the Weasley's tomorrow, I meant to mention in early but forgot to. I was thinking of visiting Draco afterwards and was kind of wondering if you guys would meet me there." He said as they sat down to eat.

"Reinforcements are we?" Severus drawled with an eyebrow quirked.

"No just…" Harry trailed off and sighed when Severus smirked at him. The man no matter how close they've become was still a git sometimes. "Okay yes I would like you two there as reinforcements of a sort."

"We'll be there Harry. About what time do you think you'll be getting there?" Remus asked.

"About three I think, at least I'll try to leave the Burrow by then." Harry replied after swallowing his food.

"We'll meet you at St. Mungo's at three," Remus said, giving Harry a reassuring smile.

"Yes, we'll be there to save you from any horrible incident that may befall you," Severus said sarcastically earning him a glare from the younger man.

Harry rolled his eyes and looked at Remus who was looking half amused and half scolding at his lover. "Be nice Severus, he's just worried about what will happen if he goes by himself."

"Yes and what happened to that supposed Gryffindor courage, hmm?" Severus retorted.

"It took a vacation for the next indefinite amount of time," Harry sighed lightly and thought, at least where Draco Malfoy is concerned. Digging back into his dinner he rejoined the conversation that had changed to another topic with the two other men, for now pushing any thoughts dealing with Draco or his friends from his mind.